Concentration or separation of minerals



, Jan. 12 1926.'

A. A. LOCKWOOD CONCENTRATION 0R SEPARATION OF MINERALS Filed March 26, 1925 OOOO nwmxrom a ALFRED ARTHUR LOCKWOOD By his Attorneys, M

Patented Jan. 12, 1926.

UNITED STATES ALFRED ARTHUR LooKwooD, on LONDON, nneLani).

isaaii rarest CONCENTRATION 0R SEPARATION; on MInnRa Ls;

Application filed March 26, 1295. SerialNo. 18,422.

7 '0' all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED ARTHUR LGCKWOOD, a subject of the King of Great Britain,residing at VVoodford Lodge, derton,London', SW. 19, England, have in vented a new and useful Improvement Relating to the Concentration or Separation of Minerals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has particularly but not exclusively for its object the separation of coal and coke from shale and dirt by dry process.

According to this invention coal, coke or a suitable ore, or the like, is fed on to a re ciprocating table which is smooth near to an end wall thereon, and is or some part of it brought by the movement of the table against said wall, so that the constituents of the coal, coke, ore or the like, or some of them, rebound from the wall to differing extents.

Under the term table having an end wall itis intended to include a structure which may be narrow and have a second wall opposite the said wall, so forming a structure which is more properly termed a trough.

Preferably the coal, coke, ore or the like, meets a current of air and this may be effected by prividing the wall at or near to the bottom with a recess running the length of the wall and closing the mouth of the recess by a porous fabric which then forms the wall. Air under pressure is led into the passage so formed. v 3

In this case it may be that there is no physical contact of the particles with the wall as a layer of air may take the place ofthe wall;

In one form of carrying out the invention I provide a longitudinally, inclined fiat bottomed tray or trough and impart to it a transverse to and fro motionand also provide at the outlet of the trough a guide set to separate the constituents according to the extent of their rebound.

The angle at which the wall producing the rebound is set with reference to the direction of the movement of the trough will vary according to the material treated, and preferably provision is made for easily varying the angle of the trough.

Although the invention is particularly adapted for separating coal where it is advantageous not to wet it the process may be applied to wet separation whether ofcoal, coke, an oreor thelike. I

Theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing,- in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a, separating, table in accordance with this invention, Figure 2 is a plan, and Figures and l are respectively sections on the line and-4i it of Figure 2. i I

Referring to the drawing, 1 is the separating tray or trough, 2 the end wall there of, and 3 afeed hopper. Trough 1 is given an incline, such that dry material fed on to it from hopperzll will of itself with some mineral or when kept in motion with other material travel down the trough; trough l is moreover given a reciprocating movement by any well known means such that wall 2 is moved parallel to itself.

4- is a partition which prevents material from the hopper coming onto the table prop'eruntil it isspread 'outby the reciprocation Of. the trouglrand approaches the neighbourhood of wall 2, where, as more clearly seen in Figure 3, it passes beneath an adjustable gate 4, as illustrated more clearly in Figure 1-, wall 2 is cut away to form a recess .2, the wall proper consisting of a strip of wire gauze 2 5 is'a pipe leading compressed air into the channel thus formed. V I 6 is an adjustable guide at the outlet end of the trough to separate the constituents nearest wall 2 from those" further away, while a further separation may be effected by the provision of a gate 7 and orifices 7 formed in the inclined side wall 8 through which middlings pass. 9 are riifles or their equivalent which may be provided when the material treated is apt to cake. 10 is a pivot, 11 apin and 12 a slot provided on the upper surface of the; table support whereby the" inclination of the Wall, 2 with reference tothe reciproeating member can'be varied;

The apparatus works as follows, it being supposed that dry coal of a size varying from 1% inches to the finest dust is the material to be treated The trough (unless specially built for treating the particular product) is adjusted for wall 2 to be at its most effective angle and given the requisite incline, so that the coal travels down the trough when kept in movement. Coal passing out of hopper 3 is fed forward and passes out beneath gate 4 and during its travel down the trough is by the reciprocation of the aration into its lighter and heavier. constituents is effected by the reciprocatron of the trough, and this separation is en:

hanced by the impact of the particles against wall 2 as the extent of the rebound of the particlesis dependent on their specific gravity. The dirt passes away through the gap between guide 6 and the wall of the trough, while the cleaned coal comes against guide 6 and travels along the inclined side 8; if desireda further separation may take place through orifices 7 the clean coal passing away when it reaches the end of wall 8.

When compressed air is employed the action is precisely the same but as above set out it might be possible with a sufficient pressure of air for the cushion of air thus produced to act as thewall to produce the rebound.

Also it may be desirable to add a certain quantity of the larger portion of previously cleaned coal, while when'the coal is allof a coarse size it may be desirable to add a proportion of'a finer coal.

Although the table illustrated is designed for dry separation, it may also be used for wet separation, with the addition of asuitable water supply.

It is obvious that there may be a suitable number of tronghsarranged-in parallel and reciprocated together or a suitablenumber of troughs inclined alternately in opposite directions and working in series.

What I claim is 1. A. processgof treating material which comprises supporting the same on a smooth surface, subjecting the same toan agitation adapted to cause travel ofthe material in two directions, and subjectingthe material to an air blast substantially parallel to the supporting surface and opp osed. to one direction of, travel of, the material, thereby separating the material ,into difllernt la ses- W 2., In apparatus, for treating minerals, the, combination. with. a, table, of a wall thereon, a smoothoperative surface near to said wall, means for reciprocating the table such that the wall moves in a direction parallel to itself, and means for causing a current of air to pass out substantially at, right anglesto said wall.

3. In apparatus for treating minerals, the combination with a table, of a wall thereon, a smooth operative surface near to said wall, means for inclining thettable such that one end of said wall is, at a higher level than the other, means for reciprocating the tablesuch that the wall moves in a direction a parallel to ,itself; and 5 means for causing a current of air .topass out substantially at right angles to said wall.

4. In apparatus for treating minerals, the combination with a table, of a Wall thereon, a smooth operative surface near to said wall, obstructions situated at a distance from said wall, means for inclining the table such that one end of said wall is at a higher level than the other, means for reciprocating the table such that the. wall moves in a direction parallelto itself, and means for causinga current of air to pass out. substantially at right, angles to said wall.

5. In apparatusfor treating minerals, the a combination with a table, of a wall thereon formed of an air permeable materialhaving behind it a layer of, air, a. smooth surface near to said wall, means for inclining the table such that one end: of thetsaid wjall standsat a higher level :than the other end, and means .for reciprocating the table such that the wall moves in a direction parallel to itself. i

6. In apparatus for treating minerals, the combination with a table bounded at one end by awalland so inclined that one end of the walljs at a higher level than the other end, a smooth operative surface near to the said wall, means for reciprocating the table suchthat the wall moves parallel to itself, andineans for varying the angle of the wall with respect to the reciprocating member operating the table. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as invention, I have signed my name this 11th day of March, 1925,

ARTHUR LO GKWVOOD.

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